GILGIT: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department has requested Gilgit-Baltistan government to catch and handover to KP Wildlife the female snow leopard, which was caught by villagers in Misgar village of Gojal valley last week and was later released into Khunjraab National Park by GB Wildlife.
“Since KP Wildlife has another male snow leopard in Hazara division and they want the female cat, so that endangered cat’s breeding could be possible,” said Sajjad Haider, secretary GB wildlife department.
After released into the wild, the big cat again started preying on goats and sheep in Misgar village, the villagers complained on Friday.
Talking to thenaturenews.com, Haider said that his department released the big cat into the wild couple of days ago and after that it started attacking the animals.
“We have received a request from KP Wildlife Department to catch and handover the leopard to them so that they can release it into the wild, where already a male cat is available and thus there is possibility of breeding of the cats.

“So far we have not taken any decision that either to catch and handover the snow leopard to KP as in Gilgit Baltistan the atmosphere is suitable for snow leopards than KPK, however, we are thinking to bring the male snow leopard here from KPK and released it into Khunjraab National Park, so that breeding can be possible,” he added.
On other hand, Akram Ali a local of Misgar village told thenaturenews.com that the snow leopard hunted dozens of animals in their village.

He added that the locals had several complaints to wildlife department for compensation of their animal loss but, no one was ready to listening the poor people of Misgar. After no response from wildlife department the locals have decided to capture the snow leopard to save the life of animals. The locals captured snow leopard, but later wildlife department interrupted and released it into the wild.
“Now the cat has again started attacking the animals,” he added.

Sea turtles enjoy a protected status in Pakistan. However, their nesting habitats, including the Sandspit beaches, are not declared protected.

Staff Report

KARACHI: World Wide Fund for Nature, WWF-Pakistan had arranged ‘Turtle Watch’ activity for school students, their teachers and a group of around a dozen of journalists from Karachi, so that they may witness the turtle-nesting and egg laying at the Sandspit beaches on late Friday evening.

On the occasion, Umair Shahid, North Indian Ocean Coordinator, WWF-Pakistan said that marine turtles’ nesting site in Sindh is Sandspit beach, which is around seven-kilometre stretch, but it extends to some degree along the entire beach strip.
“This is one of the most important green turtle nesting sites in the world, but climate change and human intervention is posing serious threats to these endangered marine turtles,” he said. The presence of huts along the nesting site, is attracting stray dogs, crows, kits and other predators, which are serious threats for the green turtle.
Sea turtles enjoy a protected status in Pakistan. However, their nesting habitats, including the Sandspit beaches, are not declared protected.
The ‘Turtle Watch’ activity was a part of WWF-Pakistan’s project titled ‘Sustainable fisheries entrepreneurship: a citizen based approach to saving Pakistan’s unique marine environment’ financially supported by Engro Foundation for community-Media Meet.

marine turtles’ nesting site in Sindh is Sandspit beach, which is around seven-kilometre stretch, but it extends to some degree along the entire beach strip.

Engro Foundation has recently paid USD 460,000 to WWF-Pakistan for this project, so that it may work on the conservation of the marine resources.
Under this project both organizations are working on conservation of marine resources, management to combat illegal fishing and reduce pressure on marine ecosystems through increased awareness.

Islamabad: UNESCO and Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi(PMAS-AAUR),jointly launched on Wednesday a three day International Conference on Asia Pacific Policy Dialogue on Water, Energy and Food Security for Poverty Alleviation in Dryland Regions at PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi.

This International Conference is held at a time when the United Nations together with its partners is promoting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Thus representing a significant step forward in the recognition of the contribution of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to sustainable development. As such, UNESCO is highlighting key issues, available solutions and policy directions for poverty alleviation and improved livelihood by inviting policy makers, scientists, academicians and other stakeholders to explore new ways for increasing water and food security and alleviate poverty in the resource deficient dryland regions worldwide, in Asia and the Pacific region, and particularly in Pakistan.

The Conference will constitute to integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into national development plans and will be proposing policy guidelines and strategies for effective use of resources to ensure water, energy and food security.

In his welcome address, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor of PMAS-AAUR said that by joining hands together and through collective efforts, we will be able to overcome the negative impact of climate change.

Ms. Vibeke Jensen, UNESCO Representative to Pakistan in her inaugural remarks stressed that the rates of soil depletion are especially worrying in the drylands which need significant attention for global sustainability, especially food security. Drylands make up 44 percent of all the world’s cultivated systems and account for 50 percent of its livestock. She emphasized on reviewing existing policies and interventions and make the needed revisions to achieve the 2030 goals. “The growing demand for food, energy and water will claim more land thus leading to more deforestation and environmental degradation unless we commit to restoring degraded land”, Ms. Vibeke said. She also stressed on the need for partnerships between governments and private sector to provide an enabling environment for smallholder farmers to increase productivity in a sustainable manner.

In his key note remarks, H.E. Takashi KURAI, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan mentioned that the 2030 agenda for SustainableDevelopment is a wider plan of action and guiding principles for all which requires joint efforts and the Government of Japan efforts is committed to address poverty and working to improve health, education, disaster management, hunger and climate change. Furthermore, the Government of Japan is assisting Pakistan in many areas including the provision of safe and clean drinking water, livestock, disaster and technology use in many rural areas.

While H.E Dato’ Dr. Hasrul Sani Mujtabar, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan in his remarks congratulated UNESCO and PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi and expressed that all the main themes – Water, Energy and Food Security are important for human security. He expressed that the Government of Malaysia under the South-South Cooperation will continue to share information and learn good experiences from the member countries.

Chief Guest, Mr. Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, Federal Minister for Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, thanked UNESCO and PMAS-AAUR for organizing the conference and termed the International Conference as an excellent example of promoting cooperation among member states and hoped that the conference participants would come with key recommendations to policy makers that will be helpful for Pakistan to devise strategies for addressing food, water and energy security issues. He said that Pakistan has been confronting the energy and water crises and that the government of Pakistan is realizing these and other resources for greater economic development.Diamer-Bhasha dam project is one of many examples that the government is working on.

Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Director, UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific highlighted the importance of the Conference and also informed about the various programmes that UNESCO is undertaking through different funds in trustprogrammes including from Japanand Malaysia under which Engineering Qualification Standardization, International Hydrological Programme, Man and the Biosphere Programme and use of ICT for High Learning in Asia Pacific are being carried out.

The three day International Conference is being organized around four major themes in Water Security for Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy Systems, Food Security and Poverty Alleviation. — PRESS RELEASE

GILGIT:
Pakistan Red Crescent in collaboration with German Red Cross has undertaken special efforts to provide assistance to the people of Gilgit Baltistan, more prone to natural disasters like Earth Quakes, frequent landslides, avalanches, flash floods and GLOF.

Addressing launching ceremony of DRR and Climate Change Adaptation program in Sardu, Chairman PRC Dr Saeed Elahi said that over 15,000 residents in 10 villages of Shigar Valley will benefit from Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation program.
Dr Saeed Elahi said that Pakistan is adversely affected from both natural, man-made disasters and climate change, this off course calls forth dire need of building disaster resilience capacity of residents so that they could better cope up with disaster effects and help themselves before arrival of external aid.
“This is why, PRC has been investing time and money to capacitate potential affectees to be better prepared to withstand with disaster impacts”, said Saeed Elahi. He said that PRC being the largest Humanitarian Organization in country has mandate to complement disaster response efforts of Government, PRC provincial branch was established in 2007 at Gilgit which has so far successfully responded to disasters occurring in region.
Dr Saeed Elahi said that PRC has already offered to Director General GB DMA for prepositioning of Disaster Preparedness stock (NFIs) for 200 families in forward locations of 10most vulnerable districts of GB besides PRC’s available stock at PHQ and district branch Skardu. This would help in initiating a prompt and timely joint response in event of disaster.

Speaking at the occasion, Senior Minister GB Haji Akbar Tabann said that PRC and GRC projects such as DRR and Climate Change Adaptation are the dire need of vulnerable people living in disaster prone areas of GB. “It is matter of immense satisfaction for me that today this project is being launched and I assure that PRC will have full support of GB government for the implementation of this project”, he said.

While expressing his thoughts, Secretary General PRC Ghulam Muhammad Awan said that another project with financial support of CRC of CAD 2.3 million is already being implemented for capacity building of PHQ-GB and communities of Ghizer District. He requested to all concerned state departments to facilitate PRC’s provincial and district branch in every possibly manner during implementation of this project. “Needless to say that without close coordination of all stakeholders especially state departments, success of project is far cry”, he added.

Staff Report
KARACHI:
Some fishermen of Karachi have recorded school of six Arabian Sea humpback whales from offshore waters of Karachi last week, a statement issued by WWF-Pakistan on Wednesday said.
WWF-Pakistan also claimed in the statement that these are a rare species of whales, though native to Arabian Sea and also WWF has trained these fishermen who have recorded a video of the school of whales.
Islam Badshah, captain of a tuna fishing boat, observed one whale on 12 September 2016 about 12 km south of Karachi. At the same time another tuna fishing vessel captained by Iqrar Muhammad observed a pod of four Arabian Sea humpback whales about 14 km south of Karachi. While another humpback whale was recorded on 17 September 2016 about 22 km south of Karachi by Captain Badshah Nawab. These fishermen have been trained under WWF-Pakistan implemented projects supported by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Global Environmental facility (GEF) and Common Oceans funded Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ).This is for the first time that more than one humpback whale was observed along the Pakistan coast. Earlier, only a single specimen of the Arabian Sea humpback whale was either observed in offshore waters or beached along the coast.

The humpback whale, scientifically known as Megaptera novaeangliae, inhabiting the Arabian Sea is considered to be anisolated subpopulation of this whale that does not migrate to colder temperate or polar waters for feeding or breeding purposes. According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) there are 14 Distinct Population Segments (DPS) of humpback whales in the world. Of these, the Arabian Sea population is the smallest, most distinct, and most at risk. According to some eestimates there areonly 82 individuals left.Its range is believed to extend from the coasts of Yemen and Oman in the west to Iran, Pakistan and India in the east.

Energy exploration and fishing gear entanglements are considered to be major threats to the subpopulation of humpback whales. Additionally, disease, vessel collisions, and climate change are other factors that are also considered to be affecting the population of this endangered whale. The NOAA categorized Arabian Sea Distinct Population Segments at ‘high risk of extinction’.

Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor (Marine Fisheries), WWF-Pakistan appreciated the efforts of the fishermen who recorded these humpback whales. Fishermen in Pakistan generally avoid interaction with whales as they can become entangled in fishing gears. They do not lay their nets in the area where whales are observed or are considered as hotspot of whales including the area in the south of Karachi, which is a natural abode of the whales. On a number of occasions, fishermen trained by WWF-Pakistan have released entangled cetaceans (whales and dolphins). Moazzam Khan further pointed out that whales were declared protected species under fisheries legislations of Government of Sindh and Balochistan in May 2016 and September 2016 respectively. It was also declared a protected species under the Balochistan Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act 2014. He further emphasized the need to include Arabian Sea humpback whales and other cetaceans in the Sindh Wildlife Protection Ordinance, 1972. Effective implementation on these legislation can ensure protection of this endangered subpopulation of humpback whale.

Rab Nawaz, Senior Director Programmes, WWF-Pakistan pointed out that in order to develop a collaborative research and conservation strategy for this species WWF-Pakistan has established an Arabian Sea humpback whale network which organized an international workshop in Dubai in January 2015. This workshop was attended by experts from regional countries and other parts of the world. During the workshop, it was decided that immediate and close cooperation between the regional countries is required for protection of this endangered subpopulation of whale. He considered the present record of their occurrence a good omen and said this visual evidence confirms that their viable population occurs in Pakistan.

Pakistan is a country where once can witness many seasons at a time despite of its short area and large population. If the weather is hot in Sindh, you can enjoy pleasant weather in northern areas, if there is drought in Baluchistan, there is heavy rainfall in upper part of the country. But this diversity has made Pakistan among the most vulnerable countries to Climate Change.

Climate extremes are affecting major agricultural regions and creating regional food crises. Continuously rising Earth’s temperature is expected to rise by 5-7 °C by the end of 21st century. Pakistan in general and Indus Delta in particular would experience a 4 to 6 °C rise in temperature by that time on an average 0.5 °C per decade. We are already under the cycle of extreme weather events i.e. floods, drought, heat wave, cyclones and glacial outbursts and tsunamis. The continuously and rapidly occurring climate related disasters and rising temperature is already damaging our crops and pushing Pakistan to food insecurity. It would have horrifying impacts on our food system if we do not go for the solution.
Potential Threats due to Climate Change:
Potential threats to Pakistan due to this changing climate and increasing temperature are; increased variability of monsoon, rapid recession of Hindu Kush-Karakoram- Himalayan (HKH) glaciers threatening water inflows into the Indus River System (IRS) that can increase the risk of floods and increased siltation of major dams that can result in greater loss of reservoir capacity.
Some other climate change related concerns of Pakistan are identified as: Increase in deforestation; loss of biodiversity; increased health risks (heat strokes, pneumonia, malaria and other vector-borne diseases) and risks to other vulnerable ecosystems (e.g. rangelands, degraded lands, mountainous areas etc.).
Severe water-stressed and heat-stressed conditions in arid and semi-arid regions, leading to reduced agriculture productivity and power generation is another major threat to Pakistan in terms of Food Security, Water Security and Energy Security.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in their report “The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security” released in December 2015, has put Pakistan on top for losses in Agriculture and crops among the developing countries. The significance of Pakistan for the scenario can be measured from the gesture that the report holds the cover picture taken during the flood in Pakistan. The report says “When examining the wider impact of disasters, the study shows that beyond production losses, medium- and large-scale disasters can have a significant impact across the food value chain, with negative consequences on trade flows of agricultural commodities, sector growth, food and non-food agro-industries, and ultimately national economies. For example, crop production losses caused by the 2010 floods in Pakistan directly affected cotton ginning, rice processing and flour and sugar milling, whilecotton and rice imports surged. Agriculture absorbed 50 percent of the USD 10 billion in total damage and losses, and sector growth dropped from 3.5 percent to 0.2 percent between 2009 and 2010, as did national gross domestic product (GDP) from 2.8 percent to 1.6 percent between the same years.
Recent research says that there would be increase of 2.8°C in maximum and 2.2°C in minimumtemperature for mid-century (2040-2069). An increase in CO2 concentration is also expected from 390 to 571 ppm. Vulnerability of the agriculture crops to extreme climate events (floods, droughts, cyclones etc) will increase with time due to increased climatic changes and globalwarming.
Impact of Climate Change on major Crops:
Wheat & Rice:
Wheat and rice are the main crops in Pakistan not only in respect of their consumption but also in view of large exports (rice). These are grown on approximately 8.69 and 2.31million hectareswith a total production of 24.2 and 5.54 million tons, respectively. These crops are cultivated indifferent agro-ecological zones of Pakistan, with each zone representing diverse socioeconomic, hydrological and climatic conditions.
Wheat is 1st staple grain food of Pakistan. It has a share of 2.2% in GDP and 10.1 % in value addition and has three major groups i.e. bold grain size, medium grain size and small grain size. Similarly Rice is 2nd staple grain food of Pakistan. Its share in GDP is 0.6% and 2.7 % in value addition with two major groups i.e. Basmati 48% and Irri (coarse rice) which is 52% of total riceproduction.According to a report Per Capita Wheat Availability in the Punjab Province estimated over different time periods using climate change scenarios does not provide a relieving situation.Considering current growth rate, it is expected that population of the province would increase many times in future. As a consequence of rising population, there would be significant impacton food security because wheat is a staple crop in Pakistan. Table shows comparison of wheatproduction and its per capita availability in Punjab, Pakistan.
Rising temperature has an adverse impact on wheat production in the Punjab province whereas the population is rising on the other hand. The combination threatensfood security. Results indicate that in 2012, per capita wheat availability is 198 kg per annumand it would be 105 kg per annum in 2031 and 84 kg per annum in 2050.
The situation is not only in Punjab, over last so many years, continuously rising temperatures in mountain valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Batistan regions in Pakistan’s north have increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters, particularly reduction of agricultural landdue to rivers expansion, and flash floods due to rising number of glacial lakes that have touchedmore than 3000 as of now. This has put sustainability of agriculture sector, a major source oflivelihood for thousands of mountain people, at stake.
With precipitation patterns now becoming more erratic and unreliable and floods more common, the farming communities are finding it difficult to continue with growing crops.Sudden cloudbursts, flash floods and weird upheaval in temperatures in mountain valleys, havelong proved bane for the hapless farmers, who are finding it hard to cope with the vagariesthese weather events.
The beautiful Shigar valley, once a hub for wheat supply to entire Baltistan is now experiences wheat shortage. The reason behind is that the productivity of farms has been suffering fromextreme weather conditions, land reduction, rising number of glacial lakes and heavy rainfall-induced calamities. The food insecurity in mountain areas is continuously on rise as people areabandoning farming and shifting to other sources of livelihoods such as mining, gemstones etc. in distant urban areas. However, food-secure mountain communities are fast becoming food-insecure, making the food security of northern parts a matter the past.
Dr. Fahd Rasul, Agro-Climatologist says that due to changing climate and extreme climate events there is a threat of significant decrease in rice-wheat cropping system. “Two differentcrop models named DSSAT and APSIM claim 15 and 17% mean rice yield reduction respectively.Whereas same models tell that wheat mean yield reduction would be up to 14 and 12%respectively.” He says that these assessments are needed to provide to the decision makerswith information for developing appropriate plans to reduce the exposed climate changes forfood security and prosperous future.
Cotton:
Cotton once the top export crop of Pakistan has faced the most horrible impact of climate change in last two years; particularly the arrival of early monsoon in the months of June andJuly and abnormal variation in temperature had adverse effect on the growth and developmentof the cotton crop. According to official sources the total sowing area of cotton in Punjab was5,813,000 acres. Out of which 211,677 acres had been damaged by the flood in 2014. Averageyield was 23 Monds per acre and total loss in production had been assessed to 4,868,577monds, amounts to 12658 Million Rupees. The situation went worst to this extent that Pakistanhad to import the cotton worth 4 Billion US$ during last year. Unusually high rainfall during months of June, July, August and September brought crop under severe stress at anearly growth stage. These observations are supported by previous record of low productioncoupled with high rainfall (≥400 mm) in 1976, 1983 & 1993. The main reason of low yield incurrent year 2015 is an unusual rainfall pattern, which has certain direct effects and a series of indirect effects. Those include creation of partial waterlogged conditions, non-development of normal feeding roots in above mentioned conditions, stunted plant growth due to less or nodevelopment of feeding roots. Due to fewer uptakes of nutrients there is a direct effect onphotosynthesis mechanism that leads to stunted growth and fruit parts shedding. Heavy rainfallhas also formed a favorable environment for increasing /breeding of whitefly and jassid, lesspollination, which leads to the flower shedding. It created high humidity favorable environmentfor fungal diseases and hurdles in weed management.
High rains also induced shedding of fruiting parts, plant’s mortality, and infestation of weed population, leaching of nutrients from soil, poor pest control and stunted plant growth. Lesssunshine and high humidity due to extended wet and cloudy weather adversely affectednitrogen application, pesticide spray, weed control and other agricultural practices.
Sunflower & Sugarcane:
Sunflower showed yield reduction up to 25% at elevated temperature of 10C to 20C beyond2050. Model also simulated that with rising temperature, sunflower yield would increase in wellirrigated and wet regions (Gujranwala) however in hot conditions (Multan) yield would sufferseverely.
Dr. GhulamRasool, Director General Pakistan Meteorology Department is afraid that we might lose crop like sugarcane and rice in future due to water scarcity and rising temperature. Heblames the poor water management practices for this loss. “Sugarcane and Rice need muchmore water and despite having ideal conditions and soil for the growth of these two crops, I amafraid we will lose these in future, as we have to shift to those which don’t consume muchwater. Pakistan is already a water stressed country due to our poor water management andnon-serious attitude towards water storage, the situation is getting worst” DG Met added.
“Another trend of shifting the sugarcane crops towards southern Punjab is also an alarming thing. This might be due to the interests of sugar mills owners but it is not in the interest of thepopulation of that area” Rasool was annoyed on the trend. He warned that safeguarding theinterests of might would damage the right of poor to live.In general, an increase in temperature will lead to shortening of Growing Season Length (GSL)for wheat and rice crops and Basmati rice tract of the country. The results suggest that theaggregate impact of climatic parameters i.e, changes in temperature and rainfall exerted anoverall negative impact on overall cereal crop yields, given that the management practices anduse of technology remain unchanged.
Scientists present solutions:
Agromony Department, University of Agriculture Faisalabad is working to measure the impacts of climate change on Pakistan’s food crop and the solutions to cope with the situation with thecooperation of AgMIP (Agriculture Models Inter-comparison and Improvement Project) which is an international consortium for improvement of crop, climate and economic models to studyclimate change and to improve substantially food security due to climate change and toenhance adaptation capacity. It works on Inter-comparisons of various technologies to improvecrop and economic models to produce enhanced assessments by the crop and economicmodeling communities researching climate change agricultural impacts and adaptation.
Scientists agree that assessments and adaptation planning are needed for better future. Keeping in view the changing weather patterns, scientists have proposed the solutions toincrease production and to counter the climate change. Farmers can have good results byselecting improved cultivars (Short lag phase, deep root system) and better management (Highinput use efficiency, manipulation of sowing time and planting density). For rice transplantationof 25 days old nursery has been suggested. Wheat sowing should be 15 days earlier thanpresent sowing date. 15% and 25% increase in planting density of rice and wheat, respectivelyand use of 15% more fertilizer in rice and 20% in wheat will give amazing results, they claim.
Reduction in Rice yield of about 17% and wheat yield of about 14 % in Rice-Wheat Cropping Zone and an economic loss of 83% farm household can happen if we continue to use currentproduction technology in changed climate. A survey conducted over 3,000 households revealedthat the local farmers are adapting to these changes in their own way without guidance ortraining. The farmers have started sowing their crops 2-3 weeks late.
The emergent need is to develop wheat varieties having adaptive capacity to climate change conditions because changing climatic conditions would play an important role in determiningfuture wheat yield. Important factors in increasing wheat supply include farm managementpractices and adoption of technology. There is a need to educate farmers in using new varietieshaving adaptive capacity to climate change and crop management practices, ultimately leadingto get higher crop income from the land. To achieve this end, extension staff can arrangetraining programs for farmers. Making more investment in agriculture would increase foodsecurity in the country.
Dr. AshfaqAham, an economist working on the economic impacts of adaptation of crop models is hopeful that with the adaptation the number of gainers would rise above 80% whichis threatened to be 25% otherwise and overall poverty rates of population will reduce to almost17%. “Per capita income for adopters could be around Rs. 200,000.” he says.
Experts suggest that these issues can be addressed by using improved and site specific production technology, sequestration of greenhouse gases, Surface seeding practice and bedplanting of wheat, integrated pest and nutrient management, laser land leveling (PrecisionAgriculture), cultivation of aerobic rice and intensification of Rice-Wheat system.
Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Chattha, Lead PI at AgMIP Pakistan says that there is a dire need to establish and strengthen interaction among stakeholders. “There should be Agro-climatic advisoryservices for farmers through early warning system and continuous crop monitoring andforecasting using climate, crop and economic models” he adds. Dr. Chattha recommendselection of improved cultivars (Short lag phase, deep root system, climate resilient). Hesuggests that wheat sowing should be 15 days earlier than present sowing dates. He alsosuggests 15% and 25% increase in planting density of rice and wheat, respectively and use of15% more fertilizer in rice and 20% in wheat.
DG Met, Dr. GhulamRasool says “Summer is expanding whereas winter is squeezing. It is affecting not only the growing season but also the crop biological cycle.” He says that sowingtime of Cotton used to be in May but now it is shifted to April, in the result the time when thecrop goes to maturity, that will be ideal time for pests and insects to grow and they won’t becontrolled. Another issue that our crops will be facing due to increased temperature, will be“evapotranspiration”, the term is mixture of two processes i.e. evaporation- loss of water fromsurface of soil due to increased temperature and transpiration-loss of water from plant’s stemdue to increased temperature. It would impact the crops at doubled scale and week crops likecotton would not be able to survive to the increased temperature.
Forest Cover issues:
Pakistan is one of the low forest cover countries with only five percent of land area under forests and tree cover according to the last national assessment conducted in 2004. Majorforest types include coastal mangroves, riverine forests, sub-tropical scrub forests, moisttemperate conifer forests, dry temperate conifer forests and irrigated plantations includinglinear plantations. Pakistan is home to some of the world’s most unique forests includingJuniper, Deodar, Oak and Chilghoza forests. Ecosystem services of forests significantly impactregulating water, controlling soil erosion, climate resilient safety nets.
Pakistan has high rate of deforestation and forest degradation. At the national level, rate of deforestation is estimated at 27,000 hectares per year. Forests in all provinces particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan and KhyberPakhtunkhwa are under severe pressure. Local communities solelydepend upon these forests for livelihood through commercial sale of wood. Government has nomechanism to provide positive incentives to legal owners and right holders of these forests fornot cutting trees. Deforestation in watershed areas adversely impacted the yield and quality ofwater at outlets besides triggering land degradation and loss of biodiversity. In riparian, low-lying and coastal areas, deforestation causes catastrophic floods and sea water intrusioninflicting huge economic losses.
It was envisaged to increase forest cover from 4.9% of the total land area in 2005 to 5.2% in 2010 and 6.0% by 2015; several afforestation projects like Rachna Doab Afforestation Project were started. Every year tree-planting campaigns were launched during spring and monsoon seasons. We are fond of making world records by creating temporary events like as many as 541,176 saplings were planted in one day on 15 July 2009, which was a world record for any country by that time. Last year, KPK government announced a marvelous campaign of planting a billion trees that is also being taken as a record, praised and discussed all over the world.
Besides the afforestation and reforestation activities, Improvement of the rangelands by proper range land management, and to reclaim nearly 6 million hectare of salt affected waste land andlarge areas of sandy desert by growing salt tolerant, fast growing grasses, shrubs & trees to be used as fodder; An increase in the area protected for conservation of wildlife from 11.3 % of the total land in 2004-05 to 11.6 % by 2009-10 and to 12.0 % by 2015 was in plans but never met reality.
Now, sensing the intensity of the issue, Pakistan government has formulated the Forest Policy in 2015. Under the policy the government has plans to expand the forest cover. Although all provinces, FATA and AJK routinely implement their respective tree planting programs and projects and on an average, a target of 70-80 million tree saplings is fixed annually at national level which is absolutely insufficient to meet even domestic demands for wood. There is a dire need to undertake a long-term mass afforestation program by Federal Government in collaboration with all Provinces and Territories. Under the policy measures, government has focused on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation & Forest Degradation (REDD+), Thisinternational program by the UNFCCC says that any action that reduces emission of carbonfrom forests is eligible for incentives. In phase three of this program, which is likely to be started in 2020, forest communities can get results-based payments under REDD+ for quantified and verified emission reduction from forests. A financial mechanism to ensure predictable financing as agreed in UNFCCC Conference of the Parties CoP-21 Decisions called the Paris Agreement for REDD+ shall be adopted when the same is ratified by the Government of Pakistan.
Pakistan Metrological department has set up the National Agro-Met Center (NAMC) which aims to address the needs of the farming community and its other related stakeholders, through provision of weather advisory information and services by using various delivery channels available in their vicinity for assisting them in making rational decisions. The purpose of establishment of National Agro-Met Center is to support and provide meteorological, climatological information and advisories to agricultural production and food security related departments to boost agriculture production in the country.
Water insecurity and Poor Management:
Pakistan is among the top 36 countries facing water scarcity. The situation is expected get even worse by the mid of century as the projections tell that Pakistan will make its position to top 20. Per capita annual water availability in Pakistan has dropped, from 5,600 cubic metres at independence to the current level of 1,017 cubic metres, and is projected to decline further. Demand for water is on the rise, projected to reach 274 million acre-feet (MAF) by 2025, while supply is expected to remain stagnant at 191 MAF. The situation will lead to demand-supply gap of approximately 83 MAF threatening sever water in security. .
Because of the country’s arid and semi-arid climate, agriculture in Pakistan is predominantly irrigated (90pc) and consumes about 95pc of annual available surface water. Though the bulk of farmland is irrigated through the canal system, farmers utilise water from other sources, including groundwater exploitation, and this has increased significantly in recent decades. Nogroundwater regulatory framework. Anyone can install any number of wells of any capacity, at any depth and can pump any amount of water at any time. In 1960, the No. of tubewells in Pakistan was about 20,000 which have now increased to over one million. This practice has led to the groundwater depletion, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Besides, Pakistan stores only 10 percent of the surface water flow. The ratio is 25-40 % worldwide whereas India saves 38%. We get our 65% water in these three months of rains and floods while the remaining 65% gathers in nine months. There is acute need for water policy and for the purpose a strong political will and filling inter-provincial trust gap is basic requirement. Unfortunately provinces are fighting on their water share and not keeping the national interest in view. On the other hand, India has made dams on Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej.
Resultantly these rivers remain dry all the year but flood in these three months. India is also helping Afghanistan for building dams on River Kabul that will emerge as an issue in near future. Pakistan needs to introduce effective trans-boundary water reforms for these trans-boundary severe issues. An effective irrigation system can play a pivotal role in overcoming the damages being done the changing climate. Pakistan’s irrigation system once considered among the best irrigation systems of the world, now has become very weak. Working procedures for the Irrigation Department have become outdated. These procedures are given in Manual of Irrigation Practices written in 1943. It contains insufficient information and doesn’t tell anything about flood management. The manual should be revised seeking advice from experts and incorporating latest international practices adjusted to local needs.
Unplanned construction in flood plain is another problem that is adding to the damages done to the crops by flooding and finally leading to the food insecurity. A new law should be promulgated to regulate constructions in flood plains as well as areas likely to be used fordevelopment of water resources in future. Experts are of the view that the water management system of Pakistan has not the tendency to cope with extreme events occurring due to rapidly changing climate. Water management practices are also needed to be in accordance with the international practices and standards.
Conclusion:
Pakistan needs immediate and comprehensive action to counter the negative impact of climate change to our crop production and food security as research has confirmed that overall production is on decline due to changing weather patterns and frequent occurrence of extreme weather events. In 1.5 Degree regime, it is imperative to adapt the measures suggested by the scientists and comparison models. So that we may be able to reduce the impacts of the gradually increasing temperature and we might be able to contribute towards the efforts being made to reduce the increase in temperature below 1.5 degree.

]]>http://thenaturenews.com/2016/08/pakistan-adaptations-measures-to-cope-with-the-rising-temperature-1-5-degree-regime/feed/0http://thenaturenews.com/2016/08/pakistan-adaptations-measures-to-cope-with-the-rising-temperature-1-5-degree-regime/EPA authorities close three restaurants in Karachi for polluting airhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TNN_eng/~3/Ak-fO9qXEzg/
http://thenaturenews.com/2016/07/epa-authorities-close-three-restaurants-in-karachi-for-polluting-air/#respondMon, 18 Jul 2016 17:19:42 +0000http://thenaturenews.com/?p=2420Staff Report
KARACHI: In a prompt action, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) initiated in line of Sindh Environment Protection Act 2014 is going to close down three food restaurants in Boat Basin following public complains of air pollution.
In a prompt action, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) initiated in line of Sindh Environment Protection Act 2014 is going to close down three food restaurants in Boat Basin following public complains of air pollution.
According to Mujtaba Baig, SEPA spokesperson, the Authority has earlier issued orders in this respect but restaurants namely Dua, Salateen and Khyber restaurants did not comply with them.
Official said in line of Under Section-22 of Sindhj Environment Protection Act 2014, SEPA has now decided to close down the businesses of restaurants with the assistance of area police and administration. Sindh Environment Protection Act 2014, the act under which SEPA is entitled to curb such air pollution activities.
The case would be heard at Environment Protection Tribunal Sindh in the next step.
“Activities of the barbeque by burning coal were causing health hazards to the nearby flat dwellers besides apartments just on the top of the restaurants,” Mujtaba added.
SEPA spokesman said that action is being taken and in this regard police and civil administration officials have been sent o the site of the restaurant and soon there would be likely action against them.

Lahore, Punjab: WWF-Pakistan expresses grave concern over the proposed Deosai festival to be held under the aegis of the Tourism Department of Gilgit-Baltistan early next month. Holding such a two-day festival poses an immediate threat to the fragile biodiversity and variety of ecosystems of the plateau.

In 1993 the region of the Deosai Plateau was declared a national park under the Northern Areas Wildlife Preservation Act 1975 to protect the last remnant population of brown bears in Pakistan. Since 1993 the number of brown bears has shown a steady growth from 19 to 60 indicating a five per cent annual growth in its population. Currently the species is listed as critically endangered in Pakistan according to the CAMP assessment, where small isolated populations exist mostly in remote mountainous areas. The most stable population of the brown bears in northern Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India is present in Deosai National Park.

Brown bears use Deosai National Park during the months of June to October, and depending on snow conditions, they move down to the lower valleys in October, where they stay until May or early June. The dates of the proposed festival coincide with a time when brown bears roam the Deosai Plains, foraging for food. WWF-Pakistan is of the opinion that brown bears are already suffering from habitat degradation and fragmentation by anthropogenic activities will lead to further shrinkage of habitat with such events being held close within its natural vicinity. This could have serious consequences on their survival.

WWF-Pakistan recognizes the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) definition of protected areas as: “a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values,” and believes that the festival threatens to degrade the unique biodiversity of the national park.

The region is one of the few areas of the world to hold a vast expanse of intact natural area, and is well known for its magnificent natural scenery and wealth of wildlife. The Government of Northern Areas, now Gilgit-Baltistan, in the past has played a central role alongside conservation organisations like WWF-Pakistan, in the conservation of this natural wealth and its biodiversity by protecting habitat of national ecological importance.

According to Rab Nawaz, Senior Director Programmes, WWF-Pakistan, “Protected areas like the Deosai National Park can contribute significantly to the livelihoods and food security of mountain peoples while conserving universally important environmental services such as clean water and biodiversity resources. In order to ensure that these functions are maintained, sound and integrated management of this protected area is essential. Whereas, sustainable tourism is included as targets under three of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), approved by the UN General Assembly last September, why are we in Pakistan not comprehending and embracing these new set of rules of well-designed and well-managed sustainable tourism?”

Deosai National Park is a peculiar example of highlands ecosystems. This remote plateau possesses unique flora and fauna, as it is situated at the confluence of three distinct mountain ranges: western Himalaya, the Ladakh, and the Zanskar. These three ranges merge together to form a complex knot of ranges that channels a variety of large “heroic megafauna” such as the Himalayan brown bear, snow leopard, grey wolf, Siberian ibex, red fox and golden. Its water bodies support significant fisheries values, including the Indus snow trout, Tibetan snow trout and Tibetan stone loach.

The festival is expected to attract crowds of tourists which will have significant environmental impacts associated with proposed recreational activities which include vegetation loss and compositional changes, soil compaction, erosion, muddiness and disruption of wildlife.

Rab Nawaz warned of a loss to the vegetation during the event. “The action of crushing or treading upon vegetation, either by foot, hoof, or tire – contributes to a wide range of vegetation impacts, including damage to plant leaves, stems, and roots, reduction in vegetation height, change in the composition of species, and loss of plants and vegetative cover. Once trampling occurs, vegetative recovery is a very slow process. Unregulated influx of tourists will be a major challenge of the festival. Clearly, such large numbers of people and vehicles will bring environmental degradation to the region.”

Last year the Tourism Department of Gilgit-Baltistan announced a similar festival in Deosai National Park. However, the festival was later cancelled.

The sea level rise has submerged several remote fishermen settlements and hamlets scattered along the estuary of River Indus in its delta in Thatta district of Sindh. Several settlements have been inundated and there is no place to construct a toilets, therefore, the residents have built hanging toilets few feet above the ground with the help of bamboos in the these villages. Villagers have also built small wooden ladder, so one can climb up these hanging toilets to respond to the call of nature.

“It’s not less than a juggling to use these toilets, we have to climb up to these shaking toilets and use it every morning, as almost entire village submerge every morning due to the high tide,” said a woman, resident of a village located in Hajamaro creek of River Indus delta.

Comprises on around ten household, this remote deltaic village has no proper sanitation system and due to the seal level rise, most of the residents have already migrated to other places.

“Most of people left the village and only those who even can’t afford a migration are still living here and we have no idea where to go” said Abdul a resident of the same village. He said while using these toilets many women have fallen and injured.

Environmentalist and official of World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Moazam Ali Khan said that, since there is no proper sanitation system in the village and use of such hanging toilets can cause different diseases among the children.

KARACHI, Sindh:
Elderly Ishaq Dablo, once a rich landlord, is jobless. Few years back, Dablo settlement Allah Dino Patel village of Thatta’s Hajamro Creek was flourishing and known for cultivating sugarcane, red rice and wheat. Due to increasing sea intrusion, as a result of climate change, Dablo’s village submerged at least twice during the last one decade.

Out of 13 islands, five have left while 40 million lands submerged into sea including Dablo’s settlement in the last decade or so.

“I used to cultivate various crops sugarcane, red rice and wheat but increasing sea intrusion has destroyed fertile lands, due to the sea water that vanished everything and snatched everything from the nearby settlements. In the result we lost out lands, crops and become jobless,” Dablo told TNN.

Once the fifth-largest in the world, the Indus River delta stretches 130 miles inland and covers 16,000 square miles, according to WWF-Pakistan.

“The River Indus is in trouble, though. Its 17 major creeks, through which the gusty water of River Indus was pushing seawater back, have almost dried up, allowing the Arabian Sea to flow upstream, due to which the fertile land of Indus River Delta is polluted with salt water and fouling farmland,” said Muhammad Ali Shah, chairperson of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, an non-governmental organization, working for the betterment of the fishermen community in the southern Pakistan.

This is not only Dadlo’s story, most of the area’s people are facing same fate as sea intrusion is increasing day by day.

“Farming was the only skill I learnt in life for living, but since there are no lands, life has become miserable for us. I am over sixty and it’s hard for me to start new life,” he added.